Rotating disk arrangement on a wave-type loom

ABSTRACT

A rotating disk arrangement on a wave-type loom wherein a plurality of shuttles, each having a drive edge and a guide edge, move simultaneously and successively along a path and serve to insert the weft threads in changing sheds formed during the weaving operation, the arrangement comprising a plurality of rotating disks arranged on an axis of rotation side by side and rotated codirectionally by a small amount along the axis of rotation according to their sequence, the rotating disks serving both for the beating up of the inserted weft threads and for propelling the shuttles along said path. Each disk comprises a drive portion which during rotation propels the shuttles by pushing against the drive edges of the shuttles, and a guide portion against which the guide edges of the shuttles rest to hold the shuttles against rotation from the drive forces applied by said drive portions.

United States Patent Stucki [54] ROTATING DISK ARRANGEMENT ON AWAVE-TYPE LOOM [72] Inventor: Peter Stucki, Tann-Ruti, Zurich,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Ruti Machinery Words Ltd., formerly CasparHonegger, Ruti, Zu-

Italy ..l39/l88 [1 1 2795999. 451 Dec. 1 1

988,468 4/ 1965 Great Britain ..l39/188 116,965 5/ 1958 U.S.S.R. 139/188 147,548 8/ 1961 U.S.S.R. 139/12 157,293 10/1962 U.S.S.R. ..139/l2208,588 3/ 1968 U.S.S.R. 139/12 Primary Examiner-James Kee ChiAttorney-Donald D. Benton 5? ABSTRACT A rotating disk arrangement on awave-type loom wherein a plurality of shuttles, each having a drive edgeand a guide edge, move simultaneously and successively along a path andserve to insert the weft threads in changing sheds formed during theweaving operation, the arrangement comprising a plurality of rotatingdisks arranged on an axis of rotation side by side and rotatedcodirectionally by a small amount along the axis of rotation accordingto their sequence, the rotating disks serving both for the beating up ofthe inserted weft threads and for propelling the shuttles along saidpath. Each disk comprises a drive portion which during rotation propelsthe shuttles by pushing against the drive edges of the shuttles, and aguide portion against which the guide edges of the shuttles rest to holdthe shuttles against rotation from the drive forces applied by saiddrive portions.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB BEE I 2 I912 3 Sheets-Sheet 1ARRANGEMENT on A WAVE- TYPE LOOM ROTATING DISK The present inventionrelates to a rotating diskarrangement on a wave-type loom wherein aplurality of insertion members, each having a drive edge and a guideedge, move simultaneously and successively along a path and serve toinsert the weft threads during operation of the loom the arrangementcomprising rotating disks arranged on an axis of rotation side by sideand rotated codirectionally by a small amount along the axis of rotationaccording to their sequence.

Devices with heating disks are known, which, after the respective threadinsertion by the shuttle, beat up the weft thread after the passagethereof on a loom. The weft thread is then beaten up simultaneously overthe entire fabric width. a 7 It is also known to use rotating disks,which are carried by a shaft arranged outside the shed of the loom, inorder to bet up the weft thread continuously and successively over thefabric width, so that the weft beat executes an undular motion.

With these known devices for beating up the weft thread, the shuttle ismoved by an additional drive so that separate means must be provided forthe beating up of the weft thread and for the drive of the shuttle.

In another wave-type loom, pivotable blades are used for the drive ofthe shuttles. These blades serve also for the beating up of the weftthreads. To prevent lateral flexure, these blades are guided by guidemeans. The blades execute pivotal movement and worm-type shaft profilesare necessary for driving of these blades.

Advantageously, it is the purpose of the rotating disk arrangement ofthis invention to provide, in a wavetype loom, for beating up of theweft thread as well as for the drive of the weft thread inserting memberor shuttle. Thus, this arrangement is further characterized in that therotating disks serve both for beating up the inserted weft threads andfor propelling the inserting members or shuttles and in that each ofsaid disks comprises a drive portion, which in operation propels theshuttles while striking against the drive edges of said shuttles, and aguide portion against which the guide edges of said shuttles rest inoperation to hold the shuttles against rotation from the drive forcesapplied by the drive portions.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to itsspecific embodiments and to the accompanying drawings, in which: i

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the rotating disk arrangement of theinvention in perspective;

FIG. 2 shows one of the rotating disks illustrated in FIG. 1 as seenfrom the side except having two prolongations or drive portions;

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the rotating disk; and

FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the rotating disk.

FIG. 1 shows a rotating disk arrangement for inserting of the weftthread in a wave-type loom or multiphase weaving machine. In order tosimplify the understanding of FIG. 1, only a few warp threads 11 areshown. For the same reason fewer rotating disks are shown than areactually present in the arrangement, The warp threads 11 are drawnbetween the heddles 12 and the fabric beating edge or shed point 13. Theweft thread inserting members or shuttles 14, of which one is shown inFIG. 1, each carry a weft thread 15 into one of the sheds formed by thewarp threads 11. The interwoven warp and weft threads form the fabric16. On a shaft 17 are fastened the rotating disks 20, which are held atuniform distances from each other by, spacing means 18. Shaft 17 and thedisks 20 rotate during operation of the loom in the direction of arrow19. The rotating disks 20 have each a prolongation or drive portion 21having a front edge 22 (see in the direction of rotation 19), whichextends outwardly. All rotating disks 20, which mutually have acongruent form, are staggered according to their sequence along shaft 17relatively to each other by the same amount counter or opposite to thedirection of rotation of arrow 19 and are secured on shaft 17. The driveportions 21 of the rotating disks 20 produce, as they rotate duringoperationof the loom in the direction of arrow 19, a helical movementwhich propagates from right to left according to FIG. 1. The movementofthe heddles 12'occurs in such a way that each shuttle 14 during itsmovement for the purpose of weft thread insertion continuously enters anopen shed, each shed changing off after each passage of the shuttle.Thewave motion of the heddles 12 or, respectively, of the sheds and theundular motion (or in one sense helical motion) formed by the driveportions 21 of the rotating disks 20 thus move at the same speed.Besides the drive portions 21, the rotating disks 20 provide thedelimitations or peripheral edges 26, which are of constant radius andmay be regarded as the outer delimitation or periphery of an internalguide portion of each of the rotating disks and separate from the driveportions. The shuttles 14 have an oblique rear edge 23 serving asa driveedge and a horizontal lower edge 24 serving as a guide edge.

FIG. 2 shows in a side view the warp threads 11, the heddles 12, theshaft 17, and one of the rotating disks 20 with its drive portion 21 andits zone of constant diameter presenting the delimitation or peripheraledge 26. The rear oblique or drive edge 23 are visible. The shed pointor fabric beating edge is again designated by reference numeral 13 andthe fabric itself by reference numeral 16. There has been included inFIG. 2, in addition, the angle-bisecting plane referred to by numeral 25which extends through the center of the shed (formed by the warp threads11). The delimitation or edge 22 of the drive portion 21 is of suchdesign that it forms a right angle 27 with the median plane 25 of theshed upon rotation of the disk 20 in all its points, i.e. in all of thepositions of the edge adjacent to the shuttle in the shed.

In the operation of the loom shaft 17 rotates, and the disks 20 rotatecontinuously with the shaft in the direction of the arrow 19. Duringrotation, the delimitations or edges 22 of the drive portions 21 strikeagainst the drive edges 23 of the shuttles 14. At each disk 20 thestarting point of the edge 22 extending outwardly comes in contact firstwith the oblique drive edge 23 of the shuttle. Upon further rotation ofthe disk 20 in the direction of arrow 19, the outwardly extending edge22 slides along the shuttle drive edge 23 and pushes the shuttle 14 tothe left, as shown in FIG. 1. In this manner, the shuttles 14 are movedforward for the purpose of inserting the weft threads. In order to avoidlateral forces on the shuttles 14 as much as possible, the

shape of the edge 22 is so selected that, as has just been mentioned, itforms a right angle with the median plane 25 of the shed during therotation. Taking into account also the friction of the delimitation oredge 22 on the edge 23 of the shuttle, it results of course that tocompensate for this friction the edge 22 should be only approximatelyperpendicular to plane 25 and that the angle 27 may, if necessary, besomewhat acute.

The above-mentioned shape of the edge 22 is obtained when the edge isdesigned as a circular involute. With this shape the force component forthe propulsion of the shuttle 14, lying in the plane of disk 20 (asshown in FIG. 2) lies in the median plane 25 of the shed It is therebyachieved that the shuttles 14 rest uniformly against the two side of theshed formed by the warp threads 11. The involute base circle 28 isconcentric with shaft 17; its radius is equal to the distance of themedian shed plane 25 from the center line of shaft 17.

Upon further rotation of disk 20, the delimitation or edge 22 finallymoves away from the edge 23. The outer part thereof serves in this workphase also to beat up the weft threads 15 inserted in the shed by theshuttles 14. With the beating up of the weft threads 15, the outer partof the delimitation or edge 22 displaces the weft thread against thefabric beating edge 13 and vigorously presses it against the fabric.This can best be seen from FIG. 1.

The forward movement of the shuttles 14 through the shed is effected bythe pushing of the peripheral edges 22 of the disks against the driveedges 23. Due to the resulting upwardly directed force, the shuttles 14push with their upper edges against the shed point 13. In so doing, theshuttles are held permanently on both sides by the warp threads. Thatis, they cannot give way or move upwardly or sideways. Due to thepushing of the edges 22, however, there results a torque, owing to whichthe front portion of the shuttle 14 has a tendency to move downward.This phenomenon exists also when the arrangement is such that the warpthreads 11 and the fabric 16 lie in a horizontal plane. It even stillexists when weaving is downward. It is therefore very essential that thedisks 20 have a guide portion of constant diameter by which the shuttles14 are held by means of their guide edge 24. This guide portion isdefined by the delimitation or edge 26. This peripheral edge causes theshuttles 14 to remain in their position permanently. Thereby, moreover,a uniform drive of the shuttles is rendered possible.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, each disk 20 has a drive portion 21.Therefore the disks execute a rotation with every passage of theshuttle. Instead, however, each disk may be provided with two or moredrive portions. In this case the disks must execute half a revolution ora still smaller fraction of a revolution per shuttle passage. FIG. 2illustrates an embodiment of a disk which is a variant (shown in dashedlines) in that it has a second drive portion 21' with the driving edge22'. When a disk 20 is provided with more than one drive portion, theseare arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation.

It should be readily evident from the foregoing that the rotation timeof the disks 20 of FIG. 1 over an arch which corresponds to thedelimitation or peripheral edge 22, is at least equal to the movementtime of the oblique drive edge 23 of the shuttles 14 with respect to afixed point of the path of the shuttles 14. Likewise it is readilyunderstandable that the rotation time of the disks 20 over an arc lengthof a delimitation 26 of a guide portion is greater than the movementtime of the guide edge 24 in relation to a fixed point of the path ofthe shuttles 14.

The rotating disks 20 are of such a form that they remain immersed orpositioned in the shed continuously during their rotation. This isachieved since the distance of each point of the outer edge of disk 20from the median line of the axis is greater than the greatest distancethat the warp threads 11 can occupy from the median line of the axisduring their shed movement. The greatest distance of the thread isattained at maximum shed opening.

Another embodiment of the rotating disks is shown in FIG. 3. These disks30 also have a guide portion with a delimitation or peripheral edgeportion 26 of constant radius and a drive portion with a delimitation oredge 22 of increasing radius. The drive of the disks 30 is effected bymeans of the shaft 17. In FIG. 3 warp threads 11, heddles 12, a shuttle14, and the shed point 13 are also shown. To insure that the disk 30remains permanently immersed or positioned between the warp threads, thefingers 31 are provided on the disks.

Upon rotation of the disk 30, the shuttles 14 are prevented from tiltingby the edge 26 analogously to the previously shown embodiment, in thattheedges 24 of the shuttle rest against the delimitations 26 of disks30. The forward movement of the shuttles 14 is again produced by theedges 22 pushing against the rear oblique edge 23 of the shuttles 14. Bythis pushing, the upper, horizontal edge 32 of the shuttle 14 (see alsoFIG. 1) is pressed against the delimitations or edges 33 of the fingers31, so that the edges 33 likewise participate in the guiding of theshuttles 14.

After the passage of the shuttle 14 at a certain disk 30, the edge 22thereof displaces the'weft thread 15 against the fabric beating edge 13.The weft thread 15 is beaten up or pressed up by the top portion 34 ofdisk 30. The dash-dot circular line 35 shows the course of movement ofthe outermost point of portion 34. When weaving heavy weft threads, theouter delimitation or edge of finger 31 may extend to the circular are35. When working fine weft threads 15, there is danger, however, that anouter delimitation of finger 31 present at the level of arch 35 andextending along the arc for an appreciable distance might cut the weftthreads 15 through. To prevent this, this outer edge is set back alittle from the outer circular are 35 after the beating-up portion 34,as shown in FIG. 3. With this construction, the weft threads arereleased after beating up and are thereby protected. Since the shuttle14 must move through the recess created by the edges 22, 26 and 33, themaximum height thereof must be smaller than the height of this recess,measured at the location of the median plane 25 of the shed.

In FIG. 4 is shown still another form or embodiment of the rotatingdisk. A rotating disk 20 drivable by the drive shaft 17 on the axis ofrotation is again shown. In form this disk corresponds to the rotatingdisk 20 shown in FIG. 2, two drive portions 21 being provided. The warpthreads 11, beating edge 13, shuttle l4, and delimitations or edges 22,26 are again provided.

FIG. 4 shows how the rotating disks 20 can be used additionally for shedformation. On the rotating disks 20' are fastened warp thread tappets ordrivers 36. The tappet 36 and warp thread 11 shown in solid lines lie onthe front, and the tappet 36 and warp thread 1 1 shown in broken lines,on the back of disk 20'. Upon rotation of disk 20', the rear warp thread11 is lifted by the rear tappet 36 and the front warp thread 11 by thefront tappet 36, whereby the shed is formed. In FIG. 4, round bolts areemployed as the warp thread tappets. The tappets touch theadjacentrotating disk or may be connected with the adjacent disk to insurethatthe warp threads 11 are properly taken along or lifted during shedformation.

It will be appreciated that still other embodiments arepossible forcombining the rotating disks with the shed formation. As a furtherembodiment, let it be mentioned that the spacing means 18 (in the formof cylinders shown in FIG. 1) which are arranged between therotatingdisks, may be constructed to serve as shed forming means. For thispurpose these spacing means are constructed to be eccentric in such away that their outermost parts or portions extend outwardly from theaxis of rotation to the location of the tappets 36 shown in FIG. 4. Thewarp threads are then actuated by this outermost part to effect shedformation.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotating disk arrangement on a wave-type loom wherein a pluralityof shuttles, each having a drive edge and a guide edge, are movedsimultaneously and successively along a path and serve to insert theweft threads in changing sheds of warp threads formed during the weavingoperation, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of rotating disksarranged on an axis of rotation side by side and adapted to be rotatedcodirectionally according to their sequence along the axis of rotation,said rotating disks serving both for the beating up of the inserted weftthreads and for propelling the shuttles along said path, each diskcomprising a drive portion which during rotation propels the shuttles bypushing against the drive edges of the shuttles, and a separate guideportion adapted to have the guide edges of the shuttles restthereagainst to hold the shuttles against rotation from the drive forcesapplied by said drive portions.

2. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 1 in which the smallestdistance of the circumference of the rotating disks from the axis ofrotation of said disks is greater than the greatest distance which thewarp threads can attain from said axis of rotation in their shedmovement.

3. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 1 in which the drive edges ofsaid shuttles lie obliquely to said path, and the drive portions of therotating disks provide an outwardly extending peripheral edge, saidguide edges lie parallel to the path of the shuttles and the guideportions of the rotating disks provide a peripheral edge spaced aconstant distance from said axis of rotation.

4. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 3 in which 7 the edges of thedrive portions intersect the median plane extending through each of thechanging sheds at an at least approximately right angle at all theirpoints u n rotation of th rotatin disks.

. The rotating disk arran gement of claim 3 in which the disks areformed from plates, each being circular over a portion of itscircumference for forming the guide portion and having at least oneprolongation which extends outwardly away from the circularcircumference for forming the drive portion.

6. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 3 in which the rotating timeof the rotating disks over the arc length, which includes the outwardlyextending edge of each of the drive portions, is at least equal to themovement time of the oblique drive edge of each of the shuttles inrelation to a fixed point of the path of the shuttles.

7. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 3 in which the rotation timeof the rotating disks over the arch length, which includes the edge ofeach of the rotating disks having constant distance from the axis ofrotation, is greater than the movement time of the guide edge of each ofthe shuttles in relation to a fixed point of the path of the shuttles. I

8. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 3 in which each rotating diskhas at least two of said outwardly extending peripheral edges which arerotation-symmetrical to each other in relation to the center of therotating disk.

9. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 1 in which the shuttles have asecond edge parallel to the guide edge, which upon passage of a shedcomes to lie against the shed point of the warp threads.

10. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 5 in which the prolongationterminates at an end farthest removed from the axis of rotation in afinger-like extension that extends in a circumferential direction, theinner edge of the extension forming with the circular portion and withthe drive portion on the prolongation of the rotating disk a recesswhose maximum height, measured over the circular portion in thedirection of the median plane of the shed, is greater than the maximumheight of the shuttles.

11. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 10 in which at the pointwhere the prolongation terminates into the finger-like extension, thedistance of the outer edge of the extension from the axis of rotation isa maximum, and the distance of the remaining outer edge of thefinger-like extension is smaller by a relatively small amount than thismaximum and extends at a constant distance from the axis of rotation.

12. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 1 in which warp threadengaging tappets are arranged between the rotating disks and are securedto the disks at substantially opposite portions thereof for rotatingtherewith, said tappets serving to actuate the warp threads to causeshed formation.

1. A rotating disk arrangement on a wave-type loom wherein a pluralityof shuttles, each having a drive edge and a guide edge, are movedsimultaneously and successively along a path and serve to insert theweft threads in changing sheds of warp threads formed during the weavingoperation, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of rotating disksarranged on an axis of rotation side by side and adapted to be rotatedcodirectionally according to their sequence along the axis of rotation,said rotating disks serving both for the beating up of the inserted weftthreads and for propelling the shuttles along said path, each diskcomprising a drive portion which during rotation propels the shuttles bypushing against the drive edges of the shuttles, and a separate guideportion adapted to have the guide edges of the shuttles restthereagainst to hold the shuttles against rotation from the drive forcesapplied by said drive portions.
 2. The rotating disk arrangement ofclaim 1 in which the smallest distance of the circumference of therotating disks from the axis of rotation of said disks is greater thanthe greatest distance which the warp threads can attain from said axisof rotation in their shed movement.
 3. The rotating disk arrangement ofclaim 1 in which the drive edges of said shuttles lie obliquely to saidpath, and the drive portions of the rotating disks provide an outwardlyextending peripheral edge, said guide edges lie parallel to the path ofthe shuttles and the guide portions of the rotating disks provide aperipheral edge spaced a constant distance from said axis of rotation.4. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 3 in which the edges of thedrive portions intersect the median plane extending through each of thechanging sheds at an at least approximately right angle at all theirpoints upon rotation of the rotating disks.
 5. The rotating diskarrangement of claim 3 in which the disks are formed from plates, eachbeing circular over a portion of its circumference for forming the guideportion and having at least one prolongation which extends outwardlyaway from the circular circumference for forming the drive portion. 6.The rotating disk arrangement of claim 3 in which the rotating time ofthe rotating disks over the arc length, which includes the outwardlyextending edge of each of the drive portions, is at least equal to themovement time of the oblique drive edge of each of the shuttles inrelation to a fixed point of the path of the shuttles.
 7. The rotatingdisk arrangement of claim 3 in which the rotation time of the rotatingdisks over the arch length, which includes the edge of each of therotating disks having constant distance from the axis of rotation, isgreater than the movement time of the guide edge of each of the shuttlesin relation to a fixed point of the path of the shuttles.
 8. Therotating disk arrangement of claim 3 in which each rotating disk has atleast two of said outwardly extending peripheral edges which arerotation-symmetrical to each other in relation to the center of therotating disk.
 9. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 1 in which theshuttles have a second edge parallel to the guide edge, which uponpassage of a shed comes to lie against the shed point of the warpthreads.
 10. The rotating disk arrangement of claim 5 in which theprolongation terminates at an end farthest removed from the axis ofrotation in a finger-like extension that extends in a circumferentialdirection, the inner edge of the extension forming with the circularportion and with the drive portion on the prolongation of the rotatingdisk a recess whose maximum height, measured over the circular portionin the direction of the median plane of the shed, is greater than themaximum height of the shuttles.
 11. The rotating disk arrangement ofclaim 10 in which at the point where the prolongation terminates intothe finger-like extension, the distance of the outer edge of theextension from the axis of rotation is a maximum, and the distance ofthe remaining outer edge of the finger-like extension is smaller by arelatively small amount than this maximum and extends at a constantdistance from the axis of rotation.
 12. The rotating disk arrangement ofclaim 1 in which warp thread engaging tappets are arranged between therotating disks and are secured to the disks at substantially oppositeportions thereof for rotating therewith, said tappets serving to actuatethe warp threads to cause shed formation.